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Ros-Lehtinen Challenger Hopes to Ride Anti-Trump Wave Into House

Scott Fuhrman lost to incumbent by 10 points in 2016

Scott Fuhrman lost to Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., in 2016. He plans on running against her again in 2018. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)
Scott Fuhrman lost to Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., in 2016. He plans on running against her again in 2018. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

Democrat Scott Fuhrman, who challenged Florida Republican Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen last year, plans to face her in a rematch in 2018.

Fuhrman, who lost by 10 points, told the Miami Herald that he expects to ride a wave of anger toward President Donald Trump.

“I’m counting on that. I think Trump is the catalyst,” he said.

Ros-Lehtinen’s 27th Congressional District broke for Hillary Clinton by 19.7 points, according to an analysis by liberal website the Daily Kos.

But Ros-Lehtinen never endorsed Trump in the presidential election last year, and has been a vocal critic since. She also holds some moderate positions, like supporting same-sex marriage and immigration reform, but Furhman said that’s not enough.

“She’s still caucusing with the Republicans,” he told the Herald.

Furhman launched his 2016 campaign only five months before the election. He also has a criminal rap sheet, having pled guilty for driving under the influence and having handgun in his car in 2009.

Furhman has met with James Stretch, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s Southern political director.

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